Join us as we follow Nimrod and Esau in their hunting encounter and how it affected the covenant birthright that began the war between Esau and Jacob’s lineage.

Jump into a deep dive of following the trail of our covenant history to reconcile and identify who God says is Israel, which is often misunderstood given the country of Israel that exists today.

Join us as we go “full circle” and walk through the footprints of America’s forefathers, the “SONS OF LIGHT,” while connecting our heritage to the ninth month of the Hebrew Covenant Calendar known as Kislev.

“Over three centuries ago,” declared John F. Kennedy, “our forefathers in Virginia and in Massachusetts, far from home in a lonely wilderness, set aside a time of thanksgiving. On the appointed day, they gave reverent thanks for their safety, for the health of their children, for the fertility of their fields, for the love which bound them together, and for the faith which united them with their God.”

Thanksgiving has been a family favorite time to celebrate with friends and family in our nation. Many use this holiday to take time to be thankful for all the blessings God has given us.

“…in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thes. 5:18).

But where did this holiday originate from? Some would say the concept originated in England:

“A celebratory harvest festival had been part of the fabric of British society since pre-Christian times. Saxons would come together every autumn to eat supper, fashion straw dolls, and harvest corn and other products.

The Pilgrims — regardless of which “truth” you choose to believe — were simply following their own traditions and cultural norms they had grown up with, just as we do today. Festivals of communal thanksgiving became popular in the aftermath of the English Reformation. The actions of Henry VIII gave rise to the Days of Thanksgiving to celebrate perceived acts of providence. In other words, acts of God.” (Christianity.com: “What is the History of Thanksgiving”)

Most American’s believe that the Thanksgiving concept started here in America, beginning with the history of the Pilgrim’s first harvest celebration with the Wampanoag Native Americans. Although our history in celebrating Thanksgiving in America is unique to our beginnings, the concept most likely came from the Hebraic Covenant Calendar’s Feasts of the LORD. Thanksgiving mimics much of the heart of the Feast of Tabernacles. How is there a concept correlation?

Before arriving in America, the Christian pilgrims fled religious persecution in England and settled briefly in Holland in 1607. There, they found themselves living among another persecuted group, the Sephardic Jews who had exiled from Spain. It was in Holland that these Pilgrims learned the significance of the Feasts of the LORD and these “set apart” times to honor and thank God.

After the Pilgrims survived multiple challenges coming to America, they arrived after a plague had wiped out many of the Indians who had resided in the Plymouth area. Faced with the harsh realities of how to survive the elements, the Pilgrims and the Native American’s living near Plymouth helped one another through their trials.

The Native American’s in particular helped the Pilgrims learn how to plant corn, fish and gather berries and nuts. The Thanksgiving tradition began after their first harvest, giving thanks for the bounty of the year. A three-day celebration in 1621, with 90 Wampanoag Native Americans joining the 53 Pilgrims, was the first “American Thanksgiving.”

Over a century later, George Washington issued the first National Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1789, inviting Americans to thank God for their safety and happiness. Almost another century year later, in 1863, Abraham Lincoln formally made Thanksgiving an annual national holiday on the final Thursday of November. In 1941, FDR clarified it as the fourth Thursday in November.

The “thanksgiving” Feast of the LORD is known as the Feast of Tabernacles (Also known as The Feast of Ingathering or “SUKKOT”). It is the seventh and final feast that culminated in a joyful celebration of thanking God for the final harvest season.

There are many similarities to the Feast of Tabernacles and Thanksgiving. Both involve the harvest and joyful in-gathering. Both are celebrated in the Fall and purposed to give thanks with “family.” Both involve a lot of food and feasting. And an interesting fact is that traditional Feast of Tabernacles and Thanksgiving both involve “hodu.” Hodu is the Hebrew word for turkey, which means “to give thanks.”

Thanksgiving in America is not a “Holy Day,” but it is a day to remember how God brought the increase to those who came inspired by divine providence to birth this nation that has been blessed by God. The Mayflower Compact reads:

“...Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.” 

Our “nation under God” is one that was conceived to extend the freedom to honor the King as king. We have been a beacon of hope to the world in sharing the good news about the Lord. Truly, we have been blessed with abundance here to be fruitful for the building the kingdom of God here in the earth.

The ninth month of the Hebrew Covenant Calendar, known as Kislev, begins at sundown on November 13th. Kislev means, “security, trust, and coming full circle.” This is the last month of the “harvest” season, and associated with the tribe of Benjamin; the youngest son of Jacob. Benjamin was the only son born in the Promised Land.

Benjamin was actually given two names at his time of birth. The first came from his mother Rachel. Having great difficulties in giving birth, Benjamin’s mother died right after seeing her son born. Rachel named him “Benoni” which means “son of my sorrow (or iniquity). The name of her son was a death confession of her stealing the family treasured idols (Gen. 35:18).

As much as Jacob loved Rachel and wanted to honor her request, when he saw his newborn, God put it on his heart to change his name to fit the destiny God had shown him. So instead of Benoni, his name became Benjamin, which means “son of my right hand.”

The meaning of a person’s name in the Bible often reveals clues to their God given identity and destiny. Notably, when God changed a person’s name, it significantly shifted His covenant forward.

For example, Abram’s name means “exalted father.” But after Abram left to the Promised Land, God changed it to Abraham, which means, “Father of many nations.” This name change fit the covenant promise to Abraham and his family inheritance, which includes Christian’s today that reside in all nations.

Another example of a significant name change was when God changed Jacob’s name to ISRAEL. Jacob’s birth name means “supplanter, or deceiver,” and this name fit his character in the first portion of his life. But after Jacob wrestled with God and came face to face with the Lord, God changed his name to fit his calling to ISRAEL, which means “ruler or prince with God” (Gen. 35:10).

This encounter was the very reason why Jacob/Israel was prompted to change Benjamin’s name because he knew the Father’s heart. Benjamin was the only son born after Jacob’s divine encounter with God. This then was Jacob’s firstfruit to the Lord when he dedicated his son to be the “son of God’s right hand.”

Incidentally, Jesus went through an identity change as well when He was being baptized. The Father said, “This is My Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17). From that moment on, Jesus was not identified as a carpenter’s son, but rather as the son of God sent to save man from sin.

Before Jacob/Israel died, God used him to give a latter day prophetic covenant blessing to all his sons. In Genesis 49:27, Jacob declared over Benjamin:

“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.”

This word reveals the two sided nature of Benjamin. The “ravenous wolf” goes after the things of the flesh with a vengeance to satiate a worldly appetite. However, the matured Benjamin “divides the spoils,” to serve Gods people with His manna.

Obviously, there is a war within Benjamin on which nature will rule within his heart. This war is similar to believers shifting from being saved by grace and carrying on “as is,” to one who wrestles with God to know Him while selflessly serving at His instruction.

All of the disciples of Jesus, minus Judas Iscariot, were from the tribe of Benjamin. When Jesus called on each of them to be His disciples, they received a new identity. After spending time with the Lord and going through a transformation process, God was able to use them as His light to share the Good News. Their new name became “Christ-ians,” meaning “sons of the Anointed One.”

God prophesied that the tribe of Benjamin would be His LIGHT when He split the kingdom in two:

“And to Solomon’s son I will give one tribe (Benjamin), that My servant David may always have a LAMP before Me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen for Myself, to put My name there (1 Kings 11:36).

Saul, who converted to Paul, was also a Benjamite (Romans 11:1). We read about his encounter, identity change, and how he was used as a “light” in Act. 9:1-22. Saul had believed himself to be so righteous as a Pharisee, persecuting the Christians UNTIL His encounter with the Father. After his “face to face,” he went from being a “son of sorrow/iniquity” to that “son of God’s right hand” (Gen. 35:18).

America will need a National “face to face” encounter as well as we have lost our identity and purpose as a nation established by God. God will raise the “sons of light” to help with this redemptive process that all creation is groaning for (Rom. 8:19).

As nations are warring, and bitterness is being fueled with the injustice and evil that is dominating the stage, it is important we take the mature side of Benjamin and war in the Spirit and not in the flesh. God has given us His mighty weapon of warfare for the pulling down of strongholds and everything that exalts itself against the LORD’s truth (1 Cor. 10:4).

God also prophesied over the Benjamites through Moses a special protection and covering. Moses declared:

“The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him, who shelters him all the day long; and he shall dwell between His shoulders.” (Deut.33: 12)

This word is comforting to take hold of and and to press into as we go through the shakings. By His grace, we are shielded under the governmental mantle of Jesus Himself, along with His hosts of Angels.

Esther and Mordacei came from the tribe of Benjamin as well, and leave us with an example of the matured Benjamins that God used to save a whole nation of people. They resolved to lay their lives down for God’s greater Kingdom cause. Their faith was unwavering and uncompromising even against impossible odds. Seeking God through prayer was key as it made way for the TIMING and strategy of God to do their part. God brought the increase that was out of their control. Can we follow that example today?

God’s Covenant sign of the rainbow after the flood is also associated with the tribe of Benjamin. (Gen.8,9). The rainbow, which has all the colors, is symbolic of the heart of the Benjamites who desire is to see God’s glory flood and restore all things (Acts 3:21).

Kislev is the ninth Hebrew month, and the biblical number associated with visitation. After His resurrection, it is recorded in the scriptures that Jesus appeared alive to nine groups of people. He IS the light of men, and the son of God who sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us all.

On the flip side, the counterfeit “light” comes through a spirit of anti-Christ, using sorcery (witchcraft) which the Old Testament recounts nine different groups or individuals who practiced sorcery. This was an abomination to the LORD. The war battling between the false and true light on the world stage today requires us to ask for a greater level of discernment to distinguish between the two. The LORD gave us a sign to look for: “You will know them by their fruit.”

There are 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit to help us distinguish between the true sons of light and the imposters.  Galatians 5:22,23 gives us a list of all nine fruits: love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  This list is a divine completeness of the manifestation of the character of Christ, which we all should aspire to become.  

When the world can see the manifestation of the “sons of light” united as one like a well- oiled machine, operating (submitting) under the headship of Yeshua and His authority, the heavens and the earth will rejoice. Creation will come into an abundance of fruitfulness and a new name will be written over these overcomers by the LORD Himself:

“… I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God. And I will write on him My new name” (Rev. 3:12).

The scripture goes on to say, “He who has an ear to hear, let him hear.” Let us be open to hearing and obeying so we can be a part of the building of the city of the New Jerusalem up ahead.

This city will not made of hands, but radiating the LIGHT of His glory in the fullness of His splendor. We must identify and purpose our hearts to join His vision to become His corporate temple for the world to see (Rev.21:1-3).

I pray God connects your light to the company of the “sons of light” whom He has prepared for this hour to rise in His glory “as one” in His hand to save the nations. It is God’s desire and plan to use His “Benjamites” in His great visitation!

“For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly awaits the revealing of the sons of God” (Romans 8:19).

• The “Ring of Fire” Eclipse continues to reveal more to the body of Christ through its line of totality in conjunction with the Word of God. Join us as we unpack this connection and answer questions to comments made from the last video – “Ring of Fire And The Next 5 Months.”

At sundown on October 14th, the eighth month of the Hebrew Calendar, known as the month of “Cheshvan,” begins. Eight is the number for new beginnings, and perfectly describes the events associated with this month in biblical history.

Cheshvan’s name stems from the word “flood.” During the days of Noah, the flood began on the 17th of Cheshvan and ended the following year on the 27th of Cheshvan. Although Cheshvan marked the execution of God’s judgment and hardship, it was also a significant month of new doors opening to a shifted landscape!  When Noah opened up the door and left the ark, he began the same covenant mission of multiplying and fulfilling the earth in a world that was completely different!

This month is also associated with the tribe of Manasseh; which was one of sons of Joseph.Joseph’s sons were grafted in to Jacob/Israel’s Covenant blessing. “Bless the lads; Let my name be named upon them. And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” (Gen. 48:16)

Manasseh means, “one who makes to forget, one who forgets the toil.” The character of Manasseh was to forgive and not carry a grudge. The forgiving nature gave Manasseh the ability to fulfill their calling. This tribe shows us the character of forgiveness to the point of forgetting the wrong, and it is this character trait that brings healing to the nations.

The prophetic blessing given to Joseph (which would now go to his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim) was the crowning best! “Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a well; His branches run over the wall.” In Genesis 49:22-26 and Deut. 33:13-17, God declares that the sons of Joseph will have hidden resources, rich heritage with God’s favor and blessing upon the land given with rain and produce. In addition, these two tribes would push the peoples to the ends of the earth.

Manasseh’s prophetic destiny in the latter days resembles the nation of America. Manasseh was the thirteenth tribe grafted in by Jacob to the family inheritance of Israel (Gen. 48), and America began with thirteen colonies, she has 13 stripes in her flag, and has 13 identified in many of her symbols on the Presidential Seal. This month is connected to America and her destiny in fulfilling her role in God’s kingdom redemption plan.

In studying Manasseh, there was a pivotal time in their history in which there were no men to carry on the inheritance of the tribe according to the laws that had been set forth (Numbers 27:1-11). But there were five single women of Manasseh who dared to believe God for a new thing! They petitioned to Moses to take possession of their inheritance so that their tribe would not be wiped out or their inheritance lost.

Moses took their request to the Lord, and the Lord made an amendment to the law and granted their request. I think this story is so relevant that is tied to women stepping through doors of leadership like “Deborah.” Women sometimes need to fight for their portion of the inheritance given to them by the King that is challenged by culture and tradition. They will be granted access to places the “legalistic law” wouldn’t let them go to before. Women will find their biggest battle will be in breaking through religious traditions.

In the Old Testament, we read one hero from the Tribe of Manasseh named Gideon, a “mighty man of valor. (Judges 6:12.) At the time Gideon is “chosen” by God to do a mighty work, he was threshing wheat to hide from the Midianites who were impoverishing and oppressing the Israelites and destroying their produce and livestock.

The Angel of Lord appeared to him. Gideon asked, “Why are all these things happening to the children of Israel?” He was looking to the Lord for answers, and the Lord’s answer was to use Gideon.  And the Lord said to Gideon, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” (Judges 6:14)

Gideon didn’t believe God had the right guy, because the odds were against him and he didn’t “appear” to be the best candidate. (Even today, some of us can believe we disqualify to do God’s work because we aren’t “schooled” to share God’s message or are equipped to minister). ”O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”

But the Lord replied, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.”

When God finally convinced Gideon He was chosen, Gideon did the logical thing and gathered as many resources as he could to fight the Midianites. The Lord instructed Gideon that he had too many resources…too many soldiers to go to battle. This was key to God’s strategy in turning the hearts of His people toward Him. The children of Israel needed to see His sovereignty to cut to their heart and depend on the resources “flooding” forth supernaturally.

God is preparing a remnant of Gideon’s today that understand they cannot have victory in their own strength or resources, but in God alone! God will choose these Gideon’s as His Firstfruits to enter into the fullness of His glory so that the nations can experience righteousness and justice; placing people in government, business, education, finances, arts, etc. who He has prepared for such a time as this.

Today’s “Gideon “Firstfruits” Army” has been hidden much like Gideon was until the Lord called upon him to step out.   This “remnant army” has learned through tests and trials to surrender to the Lord’s command, and the least likely to be chosen to rule in positions of prominence both in and out of the Church according to our “worldly standards.” They will be chosen to be “kings and priests” in the Age of Tabernacles when Jesus returns as King (Rev. 5:9).

It is no coincidence that Gideon was threshing wheat when He was called upon.  God’s role for this Gideon army He is raising up today will have the wisdom to discern between the wheat from the tares that have grown in the field (world). This wisdom will even plumbline the Church in establishing His Kingdom here on the earth. Over these past 2,000 years, the Church at large has produced wheat (good) and tares (bad), and she doesn’t look like a unified body at all.  The “Gideon army” will be the ones God equips to bring the body together to look like His Bride.

The month of Cheshvan is associated with the Lord’s flood that brings death and life.  When the Lord flooded the earth in the days of Noah, there was death that resulted. Death always proceeds God’s resurrection power and new beginnings. Even before the children of Israel were getting close to the time when the Lord would finally take them out of the wilderness and into the Promised Land, Moses died first.  The Lord then said to Joshua, “MOSES IS DEAD!” (Joshua 1:1). “Be Strong and of Good Courage!”

Moses was a great leader, and God used him to move His Covenantal purpose forward.  But when it was God’s timing, Joshua was chosen to pick up the baton and move the Covenant forward differently than his predecessor. God created Joshua with the purpose in mind to lead and conquer the Promised Land.  He didn’t create Joshua to replicate Moses, but only to glean from Moses the wisdom, knowledge, and leadership of God’s heart, plan and character.

We are about to see a new generation who will take the deposit of the “Pentecostal (church) Age” and move it forward into the “Age of Tabernacles.” They will take the wisdom and truth we have gained in advancing the Kingdom of God these past 2000 years, but will move God’s Covenant plan ahead differently.  The “old wine skin” will die.  The “traditions of old” will die.  The flesh will die.  But His Spirit will flood the earth and bring newness of life.  The Gideon’s will advance into the “Promised Land” with the King leading them and establish His government in the land.  It is an exciting time we live in!

In order to experience “newness of life,” we have to close doors to open new ones. We have to let go of old ways and mindsets that aren’t producing life any longer. We need to let go of past successes as well so we can embrace the newness of the season ahead. Ask the Lord, “What door do I need to close so I can enter in the new door ahead?” Enjoy the flood of His Spirit bringing new life!

During the week of the Feast of Tabernacles, reflecting (dwelling) upon the Lord and His Covenant promises were a part of the fabric of what God’s people did each year.  

Let’s take time to do the same by reviewing Jacob’s family’s history and journey with the Lord and identify the pattern and purpose of the seven Feasts reflected in his own life.

BIBLICAL HISTORY PRIOR TO JACOB

After the flood of Noah’s days, wickedness began spreading throughout the earth once again with the help of Nimrod’s reign that birthed the “anti-Christ” government (Gen. 10,11). The Lord decided to choose one of Noah’s great, great grandsons to establish the next covenant with that would usher in the solution to stop the cycle of evil (sin) that was separating mankind from the Lord (Gen. 12).   

God determined that this next covenant could not be dependent on man’s ability to keep his promise to the Lord in order to fulfill the covenant.  God would not only initiate the covenant, keep it and perfect it in Himself, but also “set apart” a people to perfect the process that would bring forth the “Son of man” in the earth.  The person God chose to initiate this plan through was Father Abraham:

“I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.  And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant…” (Gen. 17:6,7).

It was through Abraham’s lineage that God would multiply His people to the ends of the earth like the sand of the sea and the stars in the sky. Abraham later gave birth to Isaac, the chosen “Seed” used to fulfill the Covenant promise.

“And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your SEED all the nations of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen. 26:4).

In a moment that did not make sense to the fulfilling of those Covenant promises, Abraham was commanded by God to offer Isaac up as a sacrifice (Gen. 22:2).  Of course, we know the story of how God stopped Abraham and provided a ram, but I am pointing out this part of the story to show how Isaac was a symbol of Christ, offered up for our sins.

Afterwards, Isaac had two sons: Esau and Jacob. Jacob, the younger son, would end up being the son who would inherit the Abrahamic Covenant promise, multiply it, and through his family, form a nation. When it was time for Isaac to bequeath the inheritance of the Covenant, Isaac blessed Jacob and charged him:

“May God Almighty bless you, And make you fruitful and multiply you, That you may be an assembly of peoples; And give you the blessing of Abraham, To you and your descendants with you, That you may inherit the land In which you are a stranger, Which God gave to Abraham”(Gen. 28:3-4).

Through Jacob, the Covenant would multiply into an “assembly of people.” Given that Isaac represented a foreshadowing of Christ, Jacob represented a foreshadowing of the Early Church (Christ-ians), that would multiply to the ends of the earth.

Jacob’s family, who become known as the Israelites, were a nation “set apart” for the Lord as God prophesied.  Likewise, the Church has been chosen to be a “set apart” people to be witnesses for Christ.

“Therefore may God give you Of the dew of the heaven, Of the fatness of the earth, And plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you.  And nations bow down to you…”(Gen. 27:28,29).

IDENTIFYING THE PATTERN OF THE FEASTS IN JACOB’S LIFE

Now that we have a little background of Jacob, let’s identity the pattern we have learned of the Spring and Fall Feasts fulfilled in Jacob’s life, starting when he received the Covenant blessing from his father Isaac.

At the place that Isaac was going to pass the covenant blessing to Jacob, the Bible says that this occurred in the city of Beersheba, which is translated to mean, “well of the oath.” This blessing was Jacob’s “PASSOVER” experience because he inherited the covenant blessing of his father and great grandfather, Abraham, and was “set apart” and “justified” to carry it forward.

Jacob’s name means “deceiver,” which was inherent in his character.  Jacob received the birthright by tricking his brother Esau as well as his father Isaac (Gen. 27).  Once that blessing was given, it couldn’t be revoked.  This deception didn’t surprise the Lord, for he understood Jacob’s weakness.  Jacob’s motives at the time were seemingly based on self-gain rather than service to the Lord.  Esau hated his brother for stealing the birthright and wanted to kill him.  But God had a redemption plan that included working through these issues in Jacob’s life.

In the Book of Jasher, one of the lost books of the Bible that is mentioned in Joshua 10:13, we learn that Jacob spent much of his time feeding the flock and learning “the instruction of the Lord and the commands from his mother and father” (Jasher 26:17).  There is no mention of Jacob having a personal encounter with God as a child, but rather, taught about the God of Abraham.  We could surmise that Jacob desired the benefits of the birthright because he understood its inherent value, or he wouldn’t have taken advantage of his brother’s weakened state to seize the opportunity to take it (Gen. 25:31).

Most of us today have a similar story.  We hear and learn about God, but we don’t necessarily have a personal relationship with Him. When we do accept Christ as our Savior, many are motivated out of desperation, afraid of hell, or wanting the benefits of eternity.  Rarely do we first come to the Lord to lay our life down for servant hood, becoming a “bondservant of Christ.”  This heart change comes through a process of tests and trials for the purpose of sanctification.

Not long after receiving the birthright, Jacob had an encounter with God through a dream, which most refer to as “Jacob’s ladder.”  In the dream, he saw a ladder that was set up on earth and its top reached heaven.  Angels were ascending and descending on this ladder, and then the Lord stood above it and spoke to Him:

“…I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants.  Also, your descendants shall be spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed ALL the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen. 28:13,14).

This was Jacob’s “PENTECOST” experience, with the promise revealed of “Tabernacles” to come.  Jesus Himself mentions this same “Tabernacles vision” that He Himself would experience after His resurrection:

“And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man” (John 1:51).

Jacob’s vision happened at a place called “Luz,” which means, “the place of almonds.”  Almonds in the Bible represent “awakening.”  There were 22 almonds on the lampstand in the Holy place of the tabernacle.  Jacob was “awakened” in his spirit, and then renamed the place of his encounter with God “Bethel,” which means “house of God.”  This name change was a foreshadowing of the deposit of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the house (tent/body) of a believer after encountering (accepting) Christ.  

Jacob encounter with God empowered (awakened) him to believe in the God of Abraham, and to begin trusting for the promises that came with the birthright.  Jacob made a vow:

“…IF God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, THEN the LORD shall be my God” (Gen. 28:20,21). 

Notice that this vow was conditional on God meeting Jacob’s needs.  It was topped off with this understanding as well:  IF God does such and such…THEN Jacob would believe God for His Word.  Most Christians are no different than Jacob when we first come to Christ.

Jacob’s “Pentecost experience” lasted 21 years. Working for Laban was training to learn how to become an obedient servant while living in a place not his home.  Jacob married Laban’s daughters, Leah and Rachel, and had 11 children while working for Laban.  Through it, God was working on Jacob’s character that was prone to deception, as well as taking things into his own hands to make things happen (Gen. 28-31).

Jacob was close to the finality of his “Pentecost” testing time when the Lord spoke to him through an angel to leave Laban’s and begin the journey back to the land he was called to, which was Jacob’s Feast of Trumpets call:

“I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me.  Now ARISE, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family”(Gen. 31:13).

Jacob obediently left, but his sinful nature led his actions once again. Instead of being upfront with Laban of his departure, he left deceptively, taking the whole flock and possessions he had gained, as well as his family with him (Gen. 31:18-20).

Jacob left in fear of Laban taking all he had worked for. God had to work out this root issue in Jacob so that he would fear the Lord more than the people or about the possessions he had.  Jacob had learned much from being Laban’s servant, but the gain was still self-serving.  God had “proven” His word faithful as Jacob was blessed during this time with great wealth.

A final process of sanctification was needed in Jacob so he could rest in the knowledge of who God was in order to carry the Covenant forward, much like that of the “Firstfruits” remnant today.  God Himself raises up adversaries to get our attention when we stray from His ways, or when we rely on ourselves instead of the Lord’s leadership.  BUT, God will also cause our adversary to be subdued when we turn from our wicked ways:

“But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries” (Ex. 23:22).

“When a man’s way pleases the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Prov. 16:7). 

God wasn’t going to allow Jacob to return home without giving him an opportunity to confront his sin. This is the pattern of occurrences during the “ten days of awe” that follow the Feast of Trumpets, when we are examining and preparing our hearts to come face to face with the Lord. In Jacob’s case, he had to enter into Esau’s territory (literally let go of everything he had acquired working and what he stole), and make things right with his brother.

Esau had been angry, revengeful and willing to kill his brother for stealing his birthright. The Bible says he had a great army of 400,000 men ready to confront Jacob to take him out. And so the story goes, the night before this encounter, Jacob got on his hands and knees and prayed with all his heart, wrestling with an Angel until the breaking of day.

“And He said, ‘Let Me go, for the day breaks.’  But he said, ‘I will not let You go unless You bless me!’  So He said to him, ‘What is your name?’  He said, ‘Jacob.’  And He said, ‘Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but ISRAEL; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed'” (Gen. 32:26-28).

Jacob had finally come to a place that all his tricks, all his strength, and all his planning couldn’t get him out of a position of losing everything he worked for.  But instead of scheming out a plan, He cried to the Lord for help.  This caused Jacob to wrestle with the Lord to contend for the promise.

As Jacob wrestled the angel, the angel asked him what his name was. It seems like a strange thing to ask since the angel obviously knew who he was.  But God set Jacob up to give him an opportunity to come clean, repent, and to confess his sin.  By telling the angel his name, Jacob was confessing that he was a deceiver.  This was Jacob’s DAY OF ATONEMENT.

In the midst of the wrestling, Jacob let go of the fears He was holding on to so tightly.  He was ready to exchange the old identity of being a thief and deceiver and submit to the Lord’s leadership.

Because Jacob allowed the sanctification process to work in his heart, this day became Jacob’s Day of JUBILEE because it was God’s set time to birth the new man in Jacob.  This was when Jacob became a “Firstfruits” remnant set apart to do the Lord’s work in the earth, meeting God face-to-face.

“They shall see His face, and HIs name shall be on their foreheads’ (Rev. 22:4).

God changed Jacob’s name to Israel (which means “God rules”).  Jacob/Israel understood he did not rule over his life anymore…God did.   Jacob/Israel understood that he was chosen to carry forth God’s inheritance, serving a greater purpose beyond his comfort or will, which required him to become a “bondservant” of the Lord’s.

Jacob/Israel then called the name of his wrestling place “Peniel,”

“For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved” (Gen. 32:30).

Peniel comes from the root word Panah-el which means “face” or “presence,” which is why Jacob called the wrestling place Peniel.

Just as Jacob/Israel crossed over Peniel, the sun rose on him. This was the first sign of the “TABERNACLES” transformation process for Jacob.

Jacob/Israel then “bowed himself to the ground seven times” before meeting Esau.  This represents the 7-day “cleansing process of TABERNACLES” that purifies our body from “the wages of sin.”

As a result, instead of attacking Jacob/Israel, his enemy was subdued, and healing took place.

“But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept”(Gen. 33:4).

Jacob/Israel offered Esau a “firstfruits” offering of his possessions to Esau.  This act confirms that Jacob/Israel’s heart had changed.  Jacob no longer held on to his possessions in greed or self-gain.  Now he was stewarding his possessions with the Lord’s principles of blessings, and truly, this offering was “unto the Lord.”

Afterwards, Jacob/Israel stopped in Succoth, which is translated as “tabernacles/booths.” There he built himself a house and made booths for his livestock (Gen. 33:17).  This was the FIRST permanent house that Jacob/Israel had build since his “Passover” experience, representing the new glorified bodies we receive after the “purifying process” so we can permanently “tabernacle” with the Lord.  

“But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation”(Heb. 9:11).

Notice this first permanent house was in the Promised Land here on the EARTH.  This also represents the work of the “Firstfruits” remnant, serving as a “priest” for the King and His Kingdom on earth during the Millennium.

“…You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth” (Rev. 5:9,10).